What's a "let down"?

[bumperlicious]

Sorry - stoopid question from a mum-to-be!

[beansprout]

It's when the milk that is stored in your breast gets ready to be drunk by your baby.

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

It's the milk ejection reflex

It's a different sensation for different people as well. Mine felt like someone was pinching my nipples. My mom and cousin got itchy armpits. SOme say it feels like a tingling.

[Boco]

It feels all tingly, and the milk starts flowing. It's triggered by your baby sucking - but can also be triggered just by hearing a baby crying, which can result in wet patches, or a squirt in the eye for a bystander if you happen to be topless.

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

You hang around topless a lot Boco??

[Piffle]

also worth noting - esp re topless activites
if you ever decide to have sex again after your baby is born...
if/when you orgasm it also happens then
You have been warned

[MissGolightly]

It's often described as a warm or tingly feeling but can be much more [ahem] noticable. For me it is like stabbing pains and a feeling like violent, painful engorgement, then the milk sprays out. Doesn't last for long though, and now DS is one the effect is much reduced as your boobs do seem to get better at controllign it.

Some people don't notice it at all.

[Boco]

Double fountain display on climax, how grand.

[stressteddy]

The only way i could describe it was that it felt like silver

As if silver or mercury were running through by boobs

It wasn't unpleasant

Congrats and good luck X

[MuminBrum]

Second MissG's description - although I always found it rather pleasurable - shows everything is working well. And the opportunity to squirt DP in the eye with a well-aimed jet of milk was always welcome!

[bumperlicious]

That may be being optimistic Piffle!

So, when I bf is it going to be a race to get the LO latched on before I give any innocent bystanders a milky shower?!

Starting to panic a little bit as I have been reading lots of these threads about bfing in public. I WANT to be someone who can just do it anywhere but it sounds like a logistical nightmare!

[Boco]

i often hang around topless pmd, in alleys, trying to squirt people as they walk past. Some call me the phantom-squirter. Others call me the giant rabbit headed milk thrower.

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

that was YOU?!!!



oh hey, my sticky eyes have cleared up...

[MissGolightly]

It can be very surprising what makes your milk let down. The obvious ones are sucking/touching of nipples, sexual arousal, sight/smell/sound of your baby, but it can extend to anything that makes you feel maternal or sexy. For eg I once let down when the cat hurt its foot and was making pathetic squeaking noises! Plus you get mysterious "nocturnal emissions" much along the lines of a teenage boy, although considerably more fluid involved.

[beansprout]

Don't worry, the squirt doesn't happen for everyone, it's never happened to me.

[MissGolightly]

Bumper, just replying to your question about bfing in public. You may have quite relaxed letdown but if you do have violent letdown it can be an issue, but you will soon find ways to get around it.

My problem was that I letdown much faster than DS could swallow. He just used to come off and let the milk stream down his cheek and onto my top! You couldn't see anything because his head shielded the spray, but when he was finished I used to have a great slick of wet all down my top and jeans. I soon learnt to put a towel under his cheek and then everything was fine. I fed him anywhere and everywhere after the first few weeks.

[stressteddy]

me neither beansprout

[Boco]

All part of the service mam [salutes / squirts]

Don't worry bump, usually it is triggered by the sucking - baby starts to feed and then let down happens. It just takes a bit of practice. Breast pads are a must for the unexpected times like other peoples babies crying, or just thinking too hard about your own baby etc.

[Piffle]

I have over zealous let down ds2 (7 wks) often lets nip go to get a breath in before he chokes on it and gets it everywhere...Also you can get let down when you're not feeding

Breast pads are needed and I truly recommend things called lilypadz...

[bumperlicious]

Eeek - well forewarned is forearmed! Thanks for the responses!